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Overview

Arezzo Cottage Rental Photos and Description

Cottage, 1 Bedroom + Other (See Description), 1 Bath, (Sleeps 2-3)

Romantic cottage with stunningly beautiful vistas from a serene hilltop on an exclusive 250 hectares estate--a well-known mushroom haven--crowded with cypresses and oaks, open to lovely walks.

The two-floor cottage has one large bedroom and bathroom, living room with fireplace, a cozy kitchen, and a wrap-around pergola. It is equipped with wifi and central heating. The cottage enjoys total privacy on a six acre olive grove with a thriving organic vegetable garden.

The owners' house, one hundred yards away, lies beyond a wall of vegetation, with its own entrance and parking. It is used exclusively by the owners. This ensures total privacy for the cottage which has its own entrance and parking.

The estate—with its splendid Renaissance villa--offers memorable walks through pristine forests that witnessed the passage of St. Francis. Nearby a medieval Franciscan convent with a lovely garden is run by seven eccentric nuns as a spiritual retreat and guest house.

Surrounding fields produce saffron, sunflower, wheat, and the rich tobacco for the famous Tuscan cigar.

The 'Via dei Sapori' (road of many tastes) passes through nearby Anghiari--celebrated by Leonardo da Vinci--only 5 minutes by car. It is one of Tuscany's most authentic villages known for its antique fair, theater, concerts, The School of Autobiography, and delicious trattorias--a list of favorites will be provided.

About carolina lockhart

The owners are involved in the arts. Their work takes them to different parts of the world.

carolina lockhart purchased this cottage in 1475

Why carolina lockhart chose Arezzo Province

The property was inherited and is part of a family estate.

What makes this cottage unique

A friend Neil MacFarquhar of NYTIMES wrote from the cottage on New Year's eve:

'I have been meaning to write since the second we set foot in this amazing place. Now, happily ensconced downstairs in front of a roaring fire to type this. You really have a stunning spot here. From the kitchen, I saw a fog rising out of the valley and the distant hills all blue. One could also appreciate what it might be like with the windows open and a warm breeze flowing though. The first day we wandered around Sansepolcro. Yesterday we did Arezzo and admired those extraordinary frescoes of Piero della Francesca. We are so content here that we may not have time for Florence...'

Like Neil, you will quickly feel at home in the cottage and this part of Tuscany because of the genuine and spontaneous attitude of the local people. Unlike the Chianti region, where foreigners often seem to outnumber locals, in this area all the villages are still lived by families rooted to the lands of their ancestors.

The main piazza is the lively heart of each town with its café, gelateria, tobacconist, barber, newspaper stand, haberdasher, shoemaker, butcher, fruit vendor, etc.

Agriculture and artisan craftsmanship are still very much alive in the bucolic region--which attracted 14.000 tourists in 2011 compared to Montalcino's flood of 400.000. It is seen as one of the hidden treasures of Tuscany.

Reviews

Exceptional!5/5 -

(8 traveler reviews)

Taste of heaven

What a special place - impressive views, pure nature and great customer service. I met a dear american friend there and I have to say: That was my best Tuscany experience. Many historical sights and delicious food just near by. And the cottage itself is historical, very authentic and shows the owners appreciation of beauty. Thank you for sharing this place with guests!

Charming Retreat With Wonderful Views

My first impression at the cottage was how high up we were. You can see for miles. And it is an unspoilt view. Incredible. The cottage is delightful. A lovely large bedroom and bed. The living room has a fire which we lit on several occasions as it was still very much spring. It was so romantic. The bathroom is good with an excellent shower. The kitchen well equipped - including silver teapot! How smart. And the welcome we got was fabulous. Our hosts were the warmest you could hope for. Thanks to them we discovered villages we would have missed. They have a great selection of guide books for when you want to explore. But equally it is wonderful to have time relaxing here and sniffing the air. We would love to return in summer so we can see what it is like with all the leaves out. We meant to have an evening or two in, but the Vecchio Osteria Pergola down the road was just too damned tempting. Home made pasta to die for. We have to return.

Springtime in Tuscany

Though short, our stay at the Cottage was a most pleasant and satisfying experience. The weather was perfect, the hospitality provided by our hosts was much appreciated, and the quiet evenings filled with birdsong, crickets & frogs were idyllic. Two nearby restaurants were outstanding: Osteria La Pergola in Tavernna, and Da Alighiero in Anghiari.

Glorious views

The cottage is comfortable, very nicely furnished, splendid bathroom with a magnificent shower, and is, as claimed, the perfect romantic hideaway - although I was only there with a friend so romance was not on the agenda. He got the sofa bed, which was comfortable apparently. The views are terrific and since I paint, like most retired Brits seem to do, there were lots of challenges around. The cleaning lady was a bonus, not an asset I have enjoyed in other rentals in Italy. It is a little off the beaten track but that is no bad thing and the fact we had access to the contents of the garden was a delight - gorgeous tomatoes and green beans. The Tavernelle shop has pretty well everything one needs in a crisis and there are loads of supermarkets around - I prefer PAM in San Sepolcro, but that is only because I have been using it for years. Anghiari is stunningly beautiful - the trick is to park at the bottom of the vertical hill that runs through town in the car park (free) and go back to the piazza by lift - and San Sepolcro is one of the nicest Tuscan towns. We were there in the last half of September and got lovely autumnal weather but cool evenings and sitting in front of a blazing log fire was really something when one comes from the world of central heating. Anyway I would recommend it to anybody except parents dragging a teenager along as the young person would get bored. Small children would love the grounds. It is a first rate base for touring the splendours of the Tiber valley and beyond - the Libbia road to Arezzo is beautiful - and do try to visit the castles listed on the map of the area. The access roads can be daunting but the end results are worth it.

A rest for mind, body and soul.

The photos tell the true story. A beautiful cottage with spectacular views of hills, valleys and green as far as the eye can see. The surrounding villages have wonderful works of art, museums and local markets. Easy to get to Arezzo by car and other places of interest. We loved having "a cosy home" for 5 days after quite a few weeks of hotel living. Would return any time, summer, autumn and winter, asthe scenery would change each time. The owner was most welcoming and generous, with goodies in the frig and cupboard, so nothing was needed on our arrival. We will never forget our stay there.

Tuscan Idyll

When we arrived weary and jet-lagged after an overnight flight and long drive, the owners greeted us with a bowl of soup and a bottle of local Chianti. What a welcome landing! We proceeded to have an idyllic stay in this romantic cottage and radiated out from Anghiari to explore Tuscany. With guidance from the owners we visited the famous frescoes of the 15th century artist Pierro della Francesca with other outings to Siena, Firenze and Arezzo. Several nights we cooked in and ate at the cottage as it was mushroom season, the kitchen is well equipped and the cottage such a delightul place to be with a good fire burning and a good bottle of wine opened. We also tried several restaurants recommended by the owners who were always helpful but not obtrusive. This is highly recommended. We would return here in a minute.

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Amenities

Arezzo Cottage Accommodation and Amenities

Property Type:

cottage

Meals:

Guests provide their own meals

Location Type:

Mountain View ...

Theme:

Away From It All

Historic

Romantic

Tourist Attractions

General:

Hair Dryer

Linens Provided ...

Parking Off Street ...

Washing Machine

Wireless Internet ...

Wood Fireplace ...

Kitchen:

Catering Available ...

Cooking Utensils

Kitchen

Refrigerator

Dining:

Dining Area

Bathrooms:

1Bathroom

Bathroom 1 -

Bedrooms:

1 Bedroom, Sleeps 3

Queen size Beds (1), Sleep Sofa or Futons (1) Sofa in the living room can be opened into a comfortable double bed

Outside:

Lanai / Gazebo ...

Suitability:

pets not allowed

Attractions:

cinemas

live theater

museums

restaurants

Leisure Activities:

antiquing

horseback riding

shopping

sight seeing

wildlife viewing

Sports & Adventure Activities:

cycling

hiking

mountain biking

swimming

tennis

Notes:

The house of the owners stands about 100 yards away, well separated from the cottage by a wall of vegetation. They keep iit exclusively for their use and never rent it. So the guests will have total privacy. They have their own entrance and parking close close to the cottage. The guests are free to harvest from the organic vegetable garden and also work in it if they have a green thumb. We have no pool. But we can direct you to two olympic-size public pools in wonderful, very well organized settings open until late evening in the summer. The windows have permanent mosquito screens, even though we are glad to say that until now there have been no mosquitoes, and it is absolutely gorgeous to dine outside especially on a starry night.

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